Hubert Lignier "Les Bussieres" Chambolle Musigny, Burgundy, France 2023

FROM ROSENTHAL:

THE WINE: 100% Pinot Noir. Les Bussières sits just below the premier cru Les Sentiers (and just down-slope from grand cru Bonnes-Mares), hard on the border of Morey-Saint-Denis. The Ligniers exploit just under a half-hectare of vines here—a total of four parcels, planted between 1947 and 1983—and the wine they produce from here combines a classically Chambolle elegance with a certain mineral-derived strictness, a structure deriving more from intense calcareousness than overt tannins. Laurent uses just 20% new wood during the 18-month élevage.

THE PRODUCER: The Domaine Hubert Lignier has long had a reputation for its fine wines known for their concentration, depth and structure. We have had the extraordinary good fortune of commencing our relationship as the US importer for this estate with the 1978 vintage. At that time, Hubert Lignier was bottling small amounts of two different cuvees of Morey St. Denis (the village bottling and the 1er Cru "Vieilles Vignes") as well as the fabled Clos de la Roche. As our relationship progressed, more and more of the secrets of the cellar found their way into bottle rather than being sold off to negociants. All of the domaine's holdings are now bottled under their own label. Hubert's son, Laurent, is the next generation of this proud estate and is following his father's traditional practices to ensure the treasures coming from the family's impressive vineyard holdings continue to exhibit the best of their respective appellations.

The domaine owns 8.30 hectares principally in the villages of Morey Saint Denis (where their home and the cellars are located), Gevrey Chambertin and Chambolle Musigny. Recently, the Ligniers have expanded their holdings to include parcels in the appellations of Nuits Saint Georges and Pommard. The Ligniers follow the principles of "lutte raisonnee" (sensible combat) in their viticulture: for example, only organic compost is used when necessary and the vineyard is tilled so that no herbicides are used. Yields vary from 20 to 55 hectoliters per hectare depending on the conditions of the growing season and the appellation. The thin, clay and limestone soil on the slopes is not conducive to vigorous growth and limits the crop naturally.

NOTE: This bottle is allocated and therefore stock is limited. Discounts do not apply to this product.